First on the Rod Laver Arena for the evening session is Naomi Osaka, former champion here, who takes on Caroline Garcia. The Frenchwoman has been inconsistent for the last couple of years but there was a time not too long ago when she was the world number four. She is no easy opponent.

GARCIA 2-6, 3-6 OSAKA: A superlative performance from Naomi Osaka, finishing this match with an ace, holding to love, and dismissing Caroline Garcia in just 61 minutes. She smiles and waves to the crowd, and that was professional.

GARCIA 2-6, 3-5 OSAKA: Good for Garcia, managing to hold serve at least and forcing Osaka to get this done on her own racket.

GARCIA 2-6, 2-5 OSAKA: Supreme hitting from Osaka now as she canters towards the third round. We haven't even had an hour here yet.

GARCIA 2-6, 2-4 OSAKA: And Osaka gets that break. She looks really comfortable out there, even smiling at some of her supporters, which is very unlike her when she's in the middle of a match.

GARCIA 2-6, 2-3 OSAKA: A hold of serve for Osaka.

GARCIA 2-6, 2-2 OSAKA: Garcia staying within touching distance in this second set.

GARCIA 2-6, 1-2 OSAKA: Osaka flies through this hold of serve, and seems to be having an amusing little chat with herself at the sit-down.

GARCIA 2-6, 1-1 OSAKA: Nice applause from Osaka to Garcia as she serves up an ace to take the advantage.

GARCIA 2-6, 0-1 OSAKA: Caroline Garcia's father is looking a little bit concerned here, as you would - Osaka is playing so rapidly that the Frenchwoman is already running out of time to save herself.

GARCIA 2-6 OSAKA: This is just relentless from Osaka, using her power to get to three set points - but Garcia grits her teeth and shores up her serve to level at deuce. Then she double-faults to hand over a fourth set point, which Osaka finally snaffles. A swift first set for the third seed, who isn't really exerting herself too much as yet.

GARCIA 2-5 OSAKA: Naomi Osaka is using the breadth of the court beautifully here, sending the ball into the corners and past Garcia's wingspan.

GARCIA 2-4 OSAKA: Garcia stays in touch with a hold of serve. Her footwork is looking sprightly but she'll need more than nimbleness here.

GARCIA 1-4 OSAKA: Sealing it with an ace, Osaka extends her advantage, and after an even start, the former champion is beginning to assert herself.

GARCIA 1-3 OSAKA: And there's the break, Garcia losing her radar against the Osaka pressure, and she can't keep her shots in.

GARCIA 1-2 OSAKA: Garcia is giving Osaka something to think about here, stepping into the points and reducing her thinking time.

GARCIA 1-1 OSAKA: Some exquisite variation from Garcia, mixing up power on both flanks with a delicate touch at the net - which plays its own role in this game, helping out both players.

GARCIA 0-1 OSAKA: A slightly variable first game from Osaka on serve, beginning with a foot fault and following that with an ace.

Osaka wins the toss and will serve.

It's still a bright and sunny evening in Melbourne as these two women head on to court - 27 degrees, imagine!